Cigarillo or Cigar

ABSTRACT

A cigarillo or cigar having a cylindrical shape includes a cut filler containing fine-cut tobacco leaves, a binder consisting of a first sheet material and a wrapper consisting of a tobacco sheet material, wherein a cylindrical rod of cut filler is wrapped in a rotary-translational manner with a double layer consisting of binder and wrapper, wherein the binder is arranged as an inner layer directly to the filler and the wrapper is arranged as an outer layer on the outer surface of the binder. The binder contains the aromatic compound solavetivone with a content in the binder of at least 15 ppm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/065799, filed Jun. 8, 2020, published in English, which claims priority to European Application No. 19179968.3 filed Jun. 13, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cigarillo or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler containing fine-cut tobacco leaves, a binder consisting of a first sheet material and a wrapper consisting of a tobacco sheet material, wherein a cylindrical rod of cut filler is wrapped in a rotary-translational manner with a double layer consisting of binder and wrapper, wherein the binder is arranged as an inner layer directly to the filler and the wrapper is arranged as an outer layer on the outer surface of the binder.

Cigarillos and also cigars deliver a very different taste experience to the consumer compared to cigarettes. In particular, many cigarette consumers perceive the taste and/or sensory experience of a cigarillo or cigar as unpleasant. Nevertheless, such consumers may want to consume smoking articles in the format of cigarillos or cigars.

It is therefore the objective of the invention to provide a cigarillo or cigar with a similar sensory experience compared to a cigarette, which is easy to manufacture, complies with standard cigarillo- or cigar-making facilities and is cost effective.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The afore mentioned objective is reached by a cigarillo or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler containing fine-cut tobacco leaves, a binder consisting of a first sheet material and a wrapper consisting of a tobacco sheet material, wherein a cylindrical rod of cut filler is wrapped in a rotary-translational manner with a double layer consisting of binder and wrapper, wherein the binder is arranged as an inner layer directly to the filler and the wrapper is arranged as an outer layer on the outer surface of the binder. The invention is characterized in that, the binder contains the aromatic compound solavetivone with a content in the binder of at least 15 ppm.

The negatively perceived sensory experience of a standard cigarillo or cigar for a cigarette consumer is mainly determined by the wrapper. The wrapper of standard cigarillos or cigars normally consists of an air-cured tobacco leaf. This air-cured tobacco leaf comprises a very strong, ammonia-like taste. Standard binders consist of paper, reconstituted tobacco (RTB) or dark or light air-cured tobacco. Such standard paper or RTB binders do not provide a rich sensory experience for the cigarette consumer. In consequence, overall sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar is mainly determine by the wrapper. Dark or light air-cured tobacco binders provide a stronger sensory experience, similar to the wrapper. If a dark or light air-cured tobacco binder is used, the standard cigarillo/cigar and for cigarette consumers unpleasant taste is even stronger.

To offset and harmonize the strong and for cigarette consumers undesirable taste of the wrapper and/or binder, a binder comprising the aromatic compound solavetivone is used. Solavetivone has a sweet taste, which neutralizes and harmonizes the strong taste of the wrapper and in consequence provides a sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar similar to a cigarette. With this improved sensory experience, cigarette consumers will experience the taste of the cigarillo or cigar according to the invention as similar to a cigarette and therefore will perceive the taste of the cigarillo or cigar according to the invention as pleasant. This is advantageous as the invention provides a cigarillo or cigar, which complies with the taste requirements of cigarette consumers. The very simple exchange of the binder material makes it possible to manufacture the invention with already existing standard cigarillo- or cigar-making facilities. This enables a cost-effective production of the invention.

Preferably, the content of solavetivone in the in the binder is at least 15 ppm. This minimum amount of solavetivone in the binder is required to achieve the desirable sensory experience. With this solavetivone content, the strong taste of the wrapper is sufficiently masked and harmonized, so that a cigarette consumer used to a cigarette-like taste will perceive the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar as pleasant.

According to another embodiment the solavetivone content in the binder is between 15 ppm and 120 ppm. Material with a solavetivone content of up to 120 ppm exhibits good availability. Therefore, this content range ensures broad availability of the binder material while ensuring the presence of the minimum content of solavetivone. The broad availability of the educts ensures a cost-effective production process.

According to another embodiment the solavetivone content in the binder exceeds 120 ppm. With a higher solavetivone content in the binder an even stronger positive influence on the taste of the cigarillo or cigar is possible. With this embodiment, cigarillos or cigars are provided, which have an even sweeter and milder taste. This opens up the possibility to offer an even sweeter and milder cigarillo or cigar to the consumers.

According to another embodiment the binder consists of flue cured Virginia tobacco containing the aromatic compound. Flue cured Virginia tobacco naturally contains solavetivone. The solavetivone is naturally contained in the Virginia tobacco leaves. Flue cured Virginia tobacco is commercially available. The commercial availability is an advantage, as the raw material necessary to produce the invention is easily available. Flue cured Virginia tobacco is also easily integratable into the cigarillo or cigar production, as only a change in binder material is necessary. Techniques to produce a cigarillo or cigar with a binder consisting of a certain tobacco type are also widely known. Therefore, the change from a standard binder, e.g. a RTB binder, to a binder made of flue cured Virginia tobacco will be easy to realize in the cigarillo or cigar production without the necessity to change or modify any facilities or working procedures. This ensures a low investment to bring this invention into the market, which will make it especially cost-effective.

Furthermore, flue cured Virginia tobacco is a commercially available and naturally grown product. This enables the realization of cigarillos or cigars with an improved sensory experience for cigarette consumers without the necessity to introduce any chemical additives to the product. Therefore, the above suggested solution is superior to the introduction of any artificial or even natural aromatic substances into the cigarillo or cigar during the production process, as this would denote an alteration of the natural tobacco product, which often is unwanted by consumers.

Broadly available flue cured Virginia tobacco contains solavetivone with a content of up to 120 ppm. The minimum amount of solavetivone in the binder is 15 ppm to achieve the desired sensory experience. This makes the concentration interval of 15 to 120 ppm solavetivone in the binder the most cost effective for realizing a binder with the minimum content of solavetivone. Preferably, flue cured Virginia tobacco leaves with a higher solavetivone content of at least 15 ppm are selected.

According to another embodiment the wrapper consists of air-cured tobacco. In combination with a binder containing solavetivone, the desired cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar is realized. This embodiment can be easily realized, as air-cured tobacco as a wrapper is a well-proven wrapper material. Therefore, this wrapper material complies with standard production processes of cigarillos or cigars. The air-cured tobacco generally has a fermented or ammonia-like taste. Air-cured tobacco is used a wrapper material also due to its optical appearance, as the wrapper is the outmost layer of the cigarillo or cigar and therefore determines the structural appearance and color of the cigar or cigarillo. Together with the binder containing solavetivone delivering a sweet taste, a more balanced and harmonized overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar is achieved, while the optical appearance of the cigarillo or cigar is not modified compared to a standard cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment the wrapper consists of Burley tobacco. In combination with a binder containing solavetivone, a Burley tobacco wrapper delivers the desired cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar. Burley tobacco is also broadly available, so the raw material for the production of this embodiment can be easily provided. Burley tobacco generally has an ammonia-like taste with nutty and/or chocolate-like notes. Together with the binder containing solavetivone delivering a sweet taste, a more balanced and harmonized overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar is achieved.

Depending on the use of air-cured or Burley tobacco as wrapper, a slightly different overall-taste profile is achieved. Both embodiments may be produced side by side. This enables the consumer to choose the specific taste profile by preference.

According to another embodiment the wrapper has a total sugar content of less than 3%. Together with the solavetivone of the binder, this sugar content of less than 3% in the wrapper will further improve the desired cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler consist of American Blend tobacco leaf mixture. American Blend tobacco is widely used for cigarettes. In addition to the solavetivone in the binder, the American Blend tobacco will contribute to the cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar. The taste of an American Blend cut filler has a rich body, a high flavor intensity, is smooth and comprises fruity, nutty, caramel sweet notes. An American Blend cut filler delivers a high level of tobacco taste. This leads to a medium to high impact on the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. The American Blend tobacco further reduces the taste impact of the wrapper. Ammonia-notes from the wrapper are balanced out. This reduces the cigar-like aroma and leads to a cigarette-like overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. Also, the American Blend cut filler in combination with the binder and wrapper generates an individual overall taste profile with notes of bitter chocolate, nuts and caramel sweetness.

According to another embodiment the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler consist of Virginia tobacco. Virginia tobacco is a widely used tobacco type in cigarettes. Therefore, it will contribute to the cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar. It will also give the cigarillo or cigar a different sensory experience compared to the use of American blend tobacco as a cut filler. Virginia tobacco comprises a natural tobacco taste with sweetness. Virginia tobacco is high in aroma. Virginia tobacco has a medium impact on the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. In combination with wrapper and binder, the Virginia tobacco as cut filler balances the impact of the wrapper by masking the ammonia-notes. Therefore, Virginia tobacco as cut filler further contributes to the cigarette-like overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. Also, it enhances a chocolate-like character, generating an individual overall taste profile in comparison to other cut fillers. This makes it possible to offer different types of cigarillos or cigars with different cut-filler materials, which all have a cigarette-like overall taste. This makes it possible to offer the consumer a more personalizes sensory experience, while still providing a cigarette-like overall taste.

According to another embodiment the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler consist of a modified American Blend tobacco leaf mixture. Such a mixture will even more open the possibility to adapt the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar to various preferences by adding and/or subtracting portions of certain leaf types. Such mixtures are frequently used in cigarettes, which will contribute to the cigarette-like taste of the cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler consist of a modified Virginia tobacco. Modified Virginia tobacco is also widely used in cigarettes. Therefore it will contribute to the cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar. Again, this type of cut-filler provides a slightly different taste compared to American Blend tobacco, Virginia tobacco or modified American Blend tobacco leaf mixture. In consequence, the sensory-experience of the cigarillo or cigar can be adapted to local preferences. It is also easily possible to simultaneously offer different embodiments in the market, which all contain the solavetivone in the binder but comprise a different cut-filler material and therefore slightly different sensory experiences, without major changes in the manufacturing process. Only the cut-filler material has to be exchanged. This is very similar to different types or brands of cigarettes which all have certain common aspects in their sensory experience compared to a standard cigarillo or cigar but all slightly differ in taste compared to each other. This enables the consumer to choose a cigarillo or cigar with a cigarette-like sensory experience that also complies with the personal taste requirements.

The objective of the invention is also reached by the use of a binder containing the aromatic compound solavetivone with a content in the binder of at least 15 ppm in a cigarillo or cigar. The use of such a binder containing solavetivone is highly advantageous, as it off-sets the strong taste from the wrapper of the cigarillo or cigar and creates a more cigarette-like sensory experience for consumers who like the sensory experience of cigarettes better over the sensory experience of a standard cigarillo or cigar. By just changing the binder and leaving the wrapper and cut-filler of the cigarillo or cigar as in standard cigarillos or cigars, the invention is extraordinary easy to produce, as standard cigarillo or cigar making facilities can be used. There is no further investment necessary to start the production. This makes the invention easy to implement and cost effective.

According to another embodiment a binder is used, which consists of flue cured Virginia tobacco containing the aromatic compound solavetivone. To provide a binder with solavetivone, the use of flue cured Virginia tobacco advantageous, as this tobacco naturally contains solavetivone. This means, that there will be no additional production step necessary to artificially add solavetivone to the binder material. Also this tobacco is a purely natural product. Therefore, it is possible to introduce the aromatic compound solavetivone into a cigarillo or cigar without the addition of artificial and/or chemical substances. Flue cured Virginia tobacco is also commercially available. This ensures the continuous supply of raw material for the production of the cigarillo or cigar.

Solavetivone a substance, which generates a sweet flavor or aroma. The molecular formula of solavetivone is:

Solavetivone (C₁₅H₂₂O) occurs naturally in flue cured Virginia tobacco. It is a stress compound produced by the tobacco plant itself. Solavetivone serves in the tobacco plant as a metabolite and phytoalexin. The level of solavetivone in the leaves is influenced during the growth stage by physical damage, UV-radiation, temperature, moisture content, infections with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), infections with cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), further plant diseases, bacterial wilt and/or metabolites of bacteria. Preferably, flue cured Virginia tobacco with a solavetivone content as high as possible but with at least 15 ppm solavetivone is used. The taste profile of the used flue cured Virginia tobacco and/or the overall taste profile of the cigarillo or cigar may be controlled by flavor analysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols. The figures show:

FIG. 1 a schematic view of a cigarillo (1) or cigar;

FIG. 2 a detailed view of the binder (3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following reference will be made to a cigarillo (1). Nevertheless, the possible embodiment of a cigar instead of a cigarillo (1) is always included when referring to the cigarillo (1).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the cigarillo 1. The cigarillo 1 has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis L protruding through the centers of the two base faces 1 a, 1 b. The cut filler 2 comprises nearly the same cylindrical shape as the cigarillo 1 but slightly smaller in diameter. The binder 3 and wrapper 4 are wrapped around the cylindrical rod of cut filler 2 in a rotary-translational manner. Rotary-translational manner means that binder 3 and wrapper 4 are wrapped around the cylindrical rod of cut filler in a movement comprising two components. The first component is a rotation of the binder 3 and/or wrapper 4 around the longitudinal axis L. The second component is a translation of the binder 3 and/or wrapper 4 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L. By a superposition of the two components a rotary-translational movement of binder 3 and or wrapper 4 is realized. This arrangement of binder 3 and wrapper 4 around the cut filler is similar to a spiral.

As a first layer, the binder 3 is wrapped around the cut filler 2. The wrapper 4 is wrapped around the binder 3 and cut filler 2 as a second layer. This arranges the binder 3 in direct contact with the cut filler 2 and the wrapper 4. The binder 3 is in direct contact with the cut filler on the inside 5 of the binder 3, which is arranged towards the center of the cigarillo 1. The binder 3 is in direct contact with wrapper 4 on the outside 6 of the binder 3. The wrapper 4 is arranged in direct contact with the binder 3. The wrapper 4 is in direct contact with the binder 3 on the inside 7 of the wrapper 4. The outside 8 of the wrapper 4 denotes the outer surface of the cigarillo 1. In other words, the binder 3 and wrapper 4 are arranged in a double layer enclosing the cut filler 2. The binder 3 denotes the inner layer of the double layer and the wrapper 4 denotes the outer layer of the double layer.

By using a binder 3 containing solavetivone, the solavetivone is positioned in the double layer. This position of the solavetivone very close to the wrapper 4 is beneficial, e.g. compared to a solavetivone-containing cut filler 2, as the solavetivone is mainly needed to harmonize the strong taste impact of the wrapper 4.

In a completed cigarillo, the binder 3 and wrapper 4 form a double layer, which encloses the cut filler. With the additional material thickness of binder 3 and wrapper 4, the slightly smaller cylindrical shape of the cut filler 2 rod adds to the total cylindrical shape of the cigarillo 1.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the binder 3. The binder 3 preferably always comprises a similar shape. This will simplify the use of machines for cigarillo production. Nevertheless, it is also possible to use a whole tobacco leaf as binder 3. As the outer surface of the cigarillo 1 is formed by the outside 8 of the wrapper 4 and the wrapper 4 completely covers the binder 3, the optical appearance of the binder 3 is negligible.

The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 cigarillo -   1 a, 1 b base face -   2 cut filler -   3 binder -   4 wrapper -   5 inside of binder -   6 outside of binder -   7 inside of wrapper -   8 outside of wrapper -   L longitudinal axis 

1. A cigarillo or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising: a cylindrical rod of a cut filler containing fine-cut tobacco leaves, a binder comprising a first sheet material, and a wrapper comprising a tobacco sheet material, wherein the binder is arranged as an inner layer directly on the cut filler, and the wrapper is arranged as an outer layer on an outer surface of the binder, wherein the binder contains the aromatic compound solavetivone with a content in the binder of at least 15 ppm.
 2. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the solavetivone content in the binder is between 15 ppm and 120 ppm.
 3. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the solavetivone content in the binder exceeds 120 ppm.
 4. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the first sheet material includes flue-cured Virginia tobacco containing the aromatic compound solavetivone.
 5. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the tobacco sheet material includes air-cured tobacco.
 6. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the tobacco sheet material includes Burley tobacco.
 7. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the wrapper has a total sugar content of less than 3%.
 8. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler include American Blend tobacco leaf mixture.
 9. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler include Virginia tobacco.
 10. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler include a modified American Blend tobacco leaf mixture.
 11. The cigarillo or cigar according to claim 1, wherein: the fine-cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler include a modified Virginia tobacco.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled) 